Paulie Malignaggi & Artem Lobov Have Physical Confrontation At A BKFC Media Session
The former UFC fighter was doing some media ahead of the event and was confronted by retired boxer Paulie Malignaggi, who recently signed a deal with the BKFC.
Mike Bohn captured the confrontation on video and posted it on Twitter:
Malignaggi went after Lobov and utter madness followed. Good thing we have peacekeeper Anthony Johnson in the house — pic.twitter.com/euoLLqi3tf
— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohnMMA) April 2, 2019
An angry Malignaggi can be seen attacking Lobov with a left hook and things were quickly broken up by security before anything further could happen. Retired UFC veteran Anthony Johnson can be seen holding Malignaggi back while the retired boxer hurls insults after Lobov.
Malignaggi was caught saying the following to Lobov after being separated (via Mike Bohn & Steven Marrocco of MMA Junkie):
“You’re a (expletive)! Next time it’s a harder slap! That was a (expletive) slap for a (expletive)! Don’t get in my face and make threats here! I got in your face to promote! Don’t get in my face and make threats here, because I’ll (expletive) you up here!”
Lobov and Malignaggi are expected to compete under the BKFC banner later this year if Lobov gets by Knight this Saturday Night. Malignaggi’s main goal has been to get at retired UFC fighter Conor McGregor, who is a longtime friend and training partner of Lobov, as the two have been rivals since McGregor posted a picture on social media of himself allegedly dropping Malignaggi during a sparring session in the lead up to The Money Fight.
